Package wrapping apparatus



Dec. 21, 1965 J. D. CONT! PACKAGE WRAPPING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1962 Dec. 21,

J. D. CONTI 3,224,161

PACKAGE WRAPPING APPARATUS Q Filed June 20,- 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. D. CONTI PACKAGE WRAPPING APPARATUS Filed June 20, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3,224,161 PACKAGE WRAPPING APPARATUS John I). Conti, Elkins Park, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 20, 1962, Ser. No. 203,827 11 Claims. (Cl. 53-228) The present invention relates to an article wrapping apparatus.

With conventional wrapping apparatus, high speed operations are achieved by supplying a wrapping material as a continuous sheet which is severed into necessary lengths immediately prior to or during the wrapping of individual articles. Generally, severing of the continuous sheet material is effected by an impact blade or shear type cutter. However, in attempting to use such conventional means for severing thermoplastic sheet materials, as for example films formed from polyethylene or polypropylene, it has been found that the life of the blade cutting edge was drastically reduced and that the wrapping operation was often interrupted by the tendency for the severed edge of the sheet material to stick to the cutting blade. Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a new or generally improved or more satisfactory article wrapping apparatus.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for snugly wrapping individual articles with thermoplastic sheet materials.

Still another object is the provision of an improved wrapping apparatus having a longitudinally reciprocating saw-tooth cutting blade for severing continuous sheet material into desired lengths.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the wrapping apparatus of the present invention with a portion thereof being broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a left side view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken longitudinally of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section taken approximately along the line IV--IV of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a tucker employed in the apparatus of the present invention.

In general, with the apparatus of the present invention an article to be wrapped is advanced along a table against one side of a sheet material and then into a wrapping station. The sheet material is delivered across the path of advancement of the article with its free end passing through and being suspended from an opening formed in the table, so that the article is partially wrapped as it is advanced against said one side of the sheet material. Once the article is received in the wrapping station, the portion of the sheet material extending between the article and the delivery means is doubled upon itself as it is urged downwardly along the article and below the table surface where it is gripped and then severed by a longitudinally reciprocating blade. The trailing end of the severed sheet material is tucked beneath the article and into contact with the leading end thereof and then sealed in that position. The portions of the sheet material projecting from opposite'ends of the article may be then folded and sealed by conventional equipment as the article itself is advanced from-the wrapping station.

ted States Patent 0 8,224,,l6i Patented Dec. 21, 1965 While the apparatus of the present invention is particularly designed for use in wrapping articles with thermoplastic sheet materials, the apparatus described is equally well adapted for use with other sheet materials and is therefore in no way limited by the particular wrapping material employed.

With reference to the drawing, the apparatus of the present invention includes a table 13 having a frame 15, side members 17 and 19, end members 21 and top plates 23, 25, 27 and 29 which together provide a generally even surface along which an article to be wrapped, as

indicated at 31, may be advanced by a plunger 33. The

plates 25 and 27 are fixed to shafts 35 and 37 respectively which extend between the side members 17 and 19 and, as more fully described hereafter, are adapted to be rotated for moving the respective plates to and from the plane of the table surface.

The plate 25 is normally maintained in the plane of the table 13 by a spring 38 which is connected to the side member 19 and the shaft 35. To lower the plate 25, the shaft 35 is actuated from a main drive shaft 39 which is rotatably supported by side members 17 and 19 and is driven continuously by a motor 41 through a chain 43 and sprocket 45. A countershaft 47 is fixed to the side member 17 and rotatably carries a sprocket 49- which is driven from the main shaft 39 by a sprocket 51 and chain 53. Cam 55 is fixed to rotate with the sprocket 49, and when engaged with a wiper 57, serves to rotate a pinion gear 59 about its support 61. A rack 63 is driven along a guide 65 by the gear 59 and meshes with a pinion gear 67 which is fixed to the end of the shaft 35 and serves to rotate the same.

A supply of a continuous sheet of wrapping material 69 is supported over one end of the table 13 by suitable means, not shown, and is delivered at a desired metered rate by feed rolls 71. At the start of each wrapping cycle, the sheet material 65 extends over and about a series of conventional tension rolls 73, in-between guide rolls 75, across the path of movement of the article 31 and between the adjacent spaced edges of the plates 25 and 27 from which it is suspended below the table surface.

Aligned channels 77 and 79 are fixed to the inside surfaces of the side members 17 and 19 and serve as guides for slide bars 81 which together carry a depressor rod 83 between terminal positions, as indicated by solid and broken lines in FIGURE 3. Movement of the slide bars 81 is effected by a lever 85 which is operated from the main drive shaft 39 through a lever 87 and connecting rod 89. The lever 85 is pivotally connected to the frame 15 by a pin 91 and is formed with a slot 93 at its opposite end for slidably receiving a pin 95 which projects from an adjacent slide bar 81. The connecting rod 89 is pivotally secured by a pin 97 to the lever 87 and carries a slide block 99 which is connected by pin 101 to one end of the lever 87.

As best shown in FIGURE 1, compression springs 103 are interposed between opposite sides of the slide block 99 and stop rings 105 fixed to the connecting rod 89. Thus, as the shaft 39 is rotated, the torque initially applied by the lever 87 urges the slide block 99 along the connecting rod 89 against the resilient action of one of the springs 103. During this movement of the slide block 99, the connecting rod 89 pivots or rocks about the pin 97 without exerting any substantial force on the lever 85. Once such one spring 103 becomes compressed, the applied torque is transmitted directly to the connecting rod 89 which pivots the lever 85 about the pin 91 and causes the slide bars 81 to move the depressor rod 83 into one of its terminal positions.

With the continued rotation of the shaft 39 and lever 87, the movement of the slide block 99 along the connecting rod 89 is reversed, causing the other of the springs 103 to be compressed and ultimately urging the connecting rod 89 and lever 85 into their original positions. This movement of the lever 85 is, of course, transmitted to the slide bars 81 which return the depressor rod 83 to the other of its terminal positions. As the shaft 39 is turned to complete a single revolution, the movement of the slide block 99 is again reversed and returned to a neutral position in .which both springs 103 are substantially under the same degree of compression.

From the above description, it will be noted that although a driving torque is continuously exerted on the slide block 99 by the shaft 39 and lever 87, the connecting rod 89 is driven only at intermittent intervals so that the 1 depressor rod 83 remains stationary in each of its terminal positions for a predetermined period. Each stroke of the connecting rod 89 must be equal and must be suflicient to effect movement of the depressor rod 83 between its 1 terminal positions. Further, while the total period during which the depressor rod 83 remains stationary must remain constant, the depressor rod 83 may be kept stationary in its uppermost and lowermost position for different periods, as by changing the locations of the stop rings 105 and/or by employing springs 103 of different strengths.

As more fully described hereafter, the downward movement of the depressor rod 83 is effected after the article 31- has been urged against one side of the sheet material 69 and into a wrapping station where it is supported by the plates 23 and 27. During its downward movement, the rod 83 engages with the opposite side of the sheet material 69 and causes the same to be doubled upon itself as it is drawn along the article and into the terminal position of the depressor rod.

In its lowermost position, the depressor rod 83 is disposed in' aligned relationship with a carrier 107 which is slidably mounted on a cross support 109 which extends between side plates 17 and 19. The carrier 107 is supported by the guide blocks 111, which are fixed to the cross support 109, and is adapted to be selectively projected toward the depressor rod 83 so as to grip the sheet material therebetween. Movement of the carrier 107 is effected through a rocker shaft 113 which is in-turn controlled by the plate cams 115 carried by the main drive shaft 39. Fixed to the rocker shaft 113 are levers 117 and cam followers 119, the latter of which are urged into contact with the peripheries of the plate cams by a tension spring 121 which is secured to the frame and an arm 1-23 fixed to the rocker shaft itself. Links 125 are pivoted to the carriage'107 by pins 127 and are actuated by the levers 117 through lost motion connection provided by the link slots 129 and pins 131, see FIGURE 6.

As best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, the carrier 107 is formed with a slot 133 within which a cutting blade 135 is slidably received. The end portions of the blade 135 are of reduced width and project freely through slotted links 137 which are also supported by the guide blocks 111 for sliding movement along the cross support 109. Levers 139, fixed to the rocker shaft 113, are connected to the links 137 by links 141 and pins 143 and 145 and serve to transmit the oscillating movement of the rocker shaft 113 to the cutting blade 135 to effect projection and retraction of the same.

To provide for more efficient cutting action the blade 135 is provided with a saw-tooth cutting edge 147 and is reciprocated' longitudinally by a high speed vibrator '149 which is operated from a suitable source, not shown, through cable 151. The vibrator includes a driven member 153 which is connected by a link 155 to a lever 157 pivoted with a cross support 109. A pin 159 projects from the blade 135 and rides within a slot 161 formed in the lever 157 whereby the blade 135 may be reciprocated longitudinally simultaneously with this projection and retraction relative to the carrier 107. When projected, the blade cutting edge 147pierces the sheet material 69 and is received within a slot 163 formed in the'depressor rod 83.

To prevent movement of the sheet material during the cutting operations, the depressor rod 83 is provided with resilient pads 165 against which the sheet material is firmly pressed by the opposing surfaces of the carrier 107.

While the carrier 107 and blade 135 are bothoperated from the main drive shaft 39, theblade 135 is projected from the carrier 107 after the sheet material is actually gripped and is returned into the carrier 107 before retraction of the carrier itself is initiated. This result is achieved by the lost motion connections between the levers 117 and links 125, and springs 167 which are interposed between and fixed to the carrier 107 and angle members 169. In the retracted position of the carrier 107, the pins 131 of the lost motions connections are positioned at the left ends of the link slots 129, as shown in FIG- URE 6, and the springs 167 are compressed between the carrier 107 and the angle members 169.- Thus as the rocker shaft 113 is turned clockwise,-as viewed in FIG- URE 3, the springs 167 urge the carrier 107 toward the depressor rod 83 to grip the sheet material 69 therebetween. During this stage, the pins 131 remain at the left ends of the link slots 129. The levers 139 urge the blade 135 toward the depressor rod 83 simultaneously with the movement of the carrier 107 so that the blade cutting edge 147 remains within the carrier slot 133. With the sheet material 69 gripped between the depressor rod 83 and carrier 107, and with continued movement of the rocker shaft 113, the carrier 107remains stationary while the rocker shaft levers 117 urge the pivot pins 131 along the slots 129 of the links 125. The rocker shaft levers 139, however, apply a positive force onto the blade 139 and thus project the leading edge thereof partially through the sheet material 69 and into a slot 163 formed in the depressor rod. The longitudinal reciprocating motion of the blade 135 provides for a smooth and rapid cutting of the sheet material without heating or otherwise causing the same to stick to the cutter.

Once the sheet material 69 is severed, the rocker shaft 113 is turned in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 3, whereby the levers 139 retract the blade 135' while the levers 117 cause the pins 131 to slide relative to links to the left ends of the slots 129. With continued counterclockwise rotation of the rocker shaft 113, the carrier 107 and blade are returned to their initial positions together, with the carrier 107 urging the springs 167 into compressed positions.

Once the carrier 107 and blade 135 are retracted, the plate 127 is lowered under its own Weight, while a tucker 171 carried by the shaft 173 urges the trailing end of the severed sheet material beneath the article 31 and into contact with the leadingend thereof. The tucker 171 is then retracted and the plate 27 is again elevated to the plane of the table 13 by thecam 175 and cam follower 177.

The tucker 171 is normally maintained in its retracted position by'the spring 179 and is elevatedthrough meshing gears 181 and 183 as a wiper 185'engages with and pivots a lever 187 fixed to the gear 183. As best seen in FIGURE 7, the tucker includes support arms 189, a rod 191 fixed to the free ends of the arms 189 and pivotally supporting a sweep bar 193, and springs 195. When the tucker 171 contacts and moves along the article 31, the sweep bar 193 is urged counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 3, against the resilient action of the springs 195. This action of the-sweep bar insures that the trailing end of the severed sheet material is pressed snugly against the .article 131 to therebyprovide a smooth wrapper. As the tucker 171 is retracted, the sweep :bar 193 is, of-course, returned to its original position by the springs 195.

The overlapped ends of the severed sheet material may be sealed by any suitable means, as for example the heating element 197 embedded within the tucker sweep bar 193 and selectively energized bysuitable-means, not shown. In applications where it is desired to merely applya sleeve about an article, the article as wrapped above may be removed from the table 13. On the other hand, if the sheet material extends beyond the sides of the article, its projecting portions may be folded and sealed by a conventional end folder as shown at 199.

In the operation of the above described apparatus, the various elements are positioned as shown in FIGURE 3 with the exception that the plate 25 is elevated and tucker 171 is in its retracted position. The main drive shaft 39 is set in operation after which the plunger 33 is actuated to urge the article 31 against one surface of the suspended portion of the sheet material 69 and into the wrapping station, as indicated by its solid line position. The plate 25 is then lowered after which the depressor rod 83 moves downwardly against the sheet material and carries the same along the article and into its lowermost terminal position. The carrier 107 and blade 135 is then moved together toward the depressor rod 83 whereby the sheet material is gripped between the opposing surfaces of the carrier 107 and the pads 165 on the depressor rod. The blade 135 is then partially projected through the sheet material and reciprocated longitudinally by the vibrator 149 to thereby cut the sheet material evenly and without heating the same.

' The blade 135 is drawn into the carrier 107 after which the carrier itself is retracted. The plate 27 is lowered and the tucker 171 urges the trailing end of the severed sheet material under the article 31 and into contact with the leading end thereof where it is sealed. The wrapped article may be then removed from the apparatus, or

alternatively, any projecting portions of the severed sheet material may be folded and sealed by the conventional folder 199.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Article wrapping apparatus including a table, an elongated opening in said table, means at one side of said table for feeding a continuous sheet material through said opening and beyond the opposite side thereof, means for advancing an article to be wrapped against one side of the sheet material and into a wrapping station, a rod normally positioned adjacent to said one side of said table, means for moving said rod into engagement with the other side of the sheet material and through said opening into a terminal position on the opposite side of said table after the article is received in the wrapping station, means including a cutting blade and blade carrier supported adjacent to the opposite side of said table in alignment with said rod as it is received in said terminal position, means for moving said carrier toward said rod for releasably gripping the sheet material carried by said rod, means for operating said cutting blade for severing the sheet material gripped between said carrier and rod,

means for tucking the trailing end of the severed sheet ,material around the article and into contact with the leading end thereof, and means for sealing the contacting ends of the severed sheet material.

2. Article wrapping apparatus including a table, an elongated opening in said table, means above said table for feeding a continuous sheet material through said opening, means for advancing an article to be wrapped against one side of the sheet material and across said opening into a wrapping station, a rod supported for movement through said opening between a first position located above said table to a second position located below said table, means for moving said rod from said first position against the opposite side of the sheet material and into said second position after the article is received in the wrapping station, means including a cutting blade and blade carrier supported below said table and in alignment with said rodas it is received in said second position, means for moving said carrier toward said rod and into snug engagement with the sheet material carried thereby, means for operating said blade to sever 6 "if the portion of the sheet material engaged between said rod and carrier, means for returning said rod into said first position, a movable plate forming a portion of said table adjacent to said opening and serving to partially support the article in the wrapping station, means for moving said plate between a position in the plane of said table and a lowered position below said table, and means for tucking the trailing end of the severed sheet material beneath the article when said plate is lowered.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said blade is formed with a saw-tooth cutting edge and wherein said blade operating means includes means for longitudinally reciprocating said blade.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further including means for sealing the ends of the sheet material disposed about the article.

5. Article wrapping apparatus including a table, a pair of plates forming a portion of said table and together defining an opening extending across said table, means above said table for feeding a continuous sheet material through said opening, means for advancing an article to be wrapped against one side of the sheet material and across said opening into a wrapping station where it is partially supported by one of said plates, means for depressing the other of said plates after the package is advanced thereover, a rod supported for movement between a first position located above said table to a second position located below said table when said other plate is depressed, means for moving said rod from said 'first position against the opposite side of the sheet material.

and into said second position after the article is received in the wrapping station, a carrier having a slot formed in one wall thereof, means supporting said carrier below said table and with the open end of said slot in opposed relationship with said rod as it is received in said second 'position, a blade slidably supported within said carrier 'slot, means for moving said carrier toward said rod to grip the sheet material therebetween, means for projecting said blade against the sheet material to sever the same, 'means for retracting the blade and carrier and for returning said rod to said first position after the sheet material is severed, means for depressing said one plate, 'a tucker, and means for moving said tucker into engagement with the trailing end, of the severed sheet material and into a position between said one plate and the article to thereby overlap the leading and trailing ends of the jsevered sheet material.

' 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said blade is provided with a saw-tooth cutting edge and further including means for reciprocating said blade longitudinally of said carrier.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 further including means for sealing the overlapped ends of the sheet material.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 further including means for folding the end portions of the severed sheet material over the article and sealing the same.

9. Article wrapping apparatus including a table, an elongated opening in said table, means at one side of said table for feeding a continuous sheet material through said opening and beyond the opposite side thereof, means for advancing an article to be wrapped along said table against one side of the sheet material and into a wrapping station, a rod normally positioned adjacent to said one side of said table, means for moving said rod into engagement with the other side of the sheet material and through said opening into a terminal position on the opposite side of said table after the article is received in the wrapping station, a blade acting against that portion of the sheet material which is engaged with said rod for severing the sheet material after said rod has been moved through the table opening and into a terminal position, a movable plate forming a portion of said table adjacent to said opening and serving to partially support the article in the wrapping station, means for moving said plate between a position in the plane of said table and a position below said table means for tucking the trailing end of the severed sheet material into overlapping relationship with the leading end thereof when said plate is lowered and means for joining the overlapping ends of the sheet material.

10. Article wrapping apparatus including a table, an elongated opening in said table, means above said table for feeding a continuous sheet material through.said openin means for advancing an article to be wrapped against one side of the sheet material and across said opening into a wrapping station, a rod supported. for movement through said opening between a first posie tion located above said table to a second position located below said table, means for moving said rod from said first position against the opposite side of the sheet material and into said second position after the article is received in the wrapping station, means including a cutting blade and blade carrier supported below said table and in alignment with said rod as it is received in said second position, means for moving said carrier toward saidrod and into snug engagement with the sheet material carried thereby, means for operating said blade to sever the portion of the sheet material engaged between said rod and carrier, means for returning said rod into said first position, means for tucking the trailing end of the severed sheet material around the article and into contact with the leading end thereof and means for sealing the contacting ends of the severed sheet material.

11. Article wrapping apparatus including means for delivering a continuous sheet material from a source, means for advancing an article to be wrapped against one side of the sheet material and into a wrapping station, a rod located between the wrapping station and sheet material source, means .for moving said rod into engagement with the opposite side of the sheet material and across the path of movement of the article after the article is received within the wrapping 'station, a carrier having a slot open along one side thereof, a blade positioned within said slot and slidably supported by said carrier, means for moving said carrier toward said, rod after said rod has been moved into a terminal position beyond the article to thereby grip the sheet material between said one side of the carrier and said rod, means I for projecting said blade from the carrier slot after the sheet material has been gripped between said carrier and said rod for severing the sheet material, means for rapidly vibrating said blade in a longitudinal direction during severence of the sheet material and means for tucking the trailing end of the sheet material into overlapping relationship with the leading end thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 998,561 7/1911 Willis 83-454 X 2,609,983 9/1952 Denton 52-256 X 2,744,371 5/1956 Hoppe 53-230 2,911,717 11/1959 Knoll 30-272 2,966,021 12/1960 Lane et al. 53-182 3,078,632 2/1963 Forman 53-228 X FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner. TRAVIS S. McGEHEE, Examiner. 

1. ARTICLE APPARATUS INCLUDING A TABLE, AN ELONGATED OPENING IN SAID TABLE, MEANS AT ONE SIDE OF SAID TABLE FOR FEEDING A CONTINUOUS SHEET MATERIAL THROUGH SAID OPENING AND BEYOND THE OPPOSITE SIDE THEREOF, MEANS FOR ADVANCING AN ARTICLE TO BE WRAPPED AGAINST ONE SIDE OF THE SHEET MATERIAL AN INTO A WRAPPING STATION, A ROD NORMALLY POINTED ADJACENT TO SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID TABLE, MEANS, FOR MOVING SAID ROD INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SHEET MATERIAL AND THROUGH SAID OPENING INTO A TERMINAL POSITION ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID STABLE AFTER THE TRIAL IS RECEIVED IN THE WRAPPING STATION, MEANS INCLUDING A CUTTING BLADE AND BLADE CARRIER SUPPORTED ADJACENT TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID TABLE IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID ROD AS IT IS RECEIVED IN SAID TERMINAL IN ALIGNMENT MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARRIER TOWARD SAID ROD FOR RELEASABLY GRIPPING THE SHEET MATERIAL CARRIED BY SAID ROD, MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID CUTTING BLADE FOR SEVERING THE SHEET MATERIAL GRIPPED BETWEEN SAID CARRIER AND ROD, MEANS FOR TUCKING THE TRAILING END OF THE SEVERAL SHEET MATERIAL AROUND THE ARTICLE AND INTO CONTACT WITH THE LEADING END THEREOF, AND MEANS FOR SEALING THE CONTACTING ENDS OF THE SEVERAL SHEET MATERIAL. 